The bilateral relation of 30 decades is yielding great results in agriculture, writes Poramet Tangsathaporn
According to South Africa’s Ambassador to Thailand Darkey Africa, diplomatic ties between Thailand and South Africa have resulted in positive outcomes, particularly in the agricultural industry.
Mr. Africa gave an exclusive interview to the Bangkok Post to commemorate the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s founding of politics and the third decade of diplomatic relations between Thailand and South Africa.
” Thailand and South Africa’s ties over the past 30 years have been good”, Mr Africa said.
The embassy said the extended- standing connection resulted from Nelson Mandela’s visits to Thailand in 1997 and 2004, which were driven by Mandela’s vision to develop connections with some countries, especially in Asia.
The mutual aid between the two places at the international level and efforts to boost bilateral trade are the source of the optimism, he said.
Mr Africa said several agreements have been signed over the years, with the areas of commerce, sports, society, and agriculture being critical focuses.
The ambassador made a point about the agricultural industry, where West African fruits are imported to Thailand while Thai fruits like mangosteen and edible are exported there.
He said he’d even like to offer meat and liquor from South Africa– regarded as some of the country’s best– to Thailand. But, the transfer of agricultural understand- how is more critical to Mr Africa.
The trade of expertise may be helpful for South American farmers because Thailand has a strong agricultural background, he said.
Gaps in hospitality
Cooperation in commerce, however, may be improved, Mr Africa said.
Simply 2, 000 persons travelled between South Africa and Thailand in 2022, he said. According to him, the number needs to be increased, adding that discussions have taken place between Thailand’s top tour operators and North American officers to come up with options.
The lack of clear flights between the two nations is one of the issues.
” We hope Thai Airways and South Africa Airways, which are national companies, may consider the prospect of communication between the two places”, he said.
He added that state officials may support making such a concept financially feasible for the flights.
The diplomatic connection has been hampered by the implementation and monitoring of treaties, he claimed.
Mr. Africa claimed that numerous agreements between the two nations ‘ collaborative arrangements and systems failed to produce any tangible results. He suggested setting up a system to ensure that those contracts are followed in terms of both the implementation and the outcomes.
The people’s acceptance of the benefits of relations between two nations just comes down to results, he said.
Mr Africa said trade figures from 2023 showed that South Africa’s export value to Thailand was 7.31 billion rand ( 14.45 billion baht ), while it imported goods and services worth 59.97 billion rand ( 118.5 billion baht ) from Thailand.
The images revealed a trade imbalance favoring Thailand in diplomatic terms. We purchased more from Thailand, he said, while Thailand purchased less from us.
Peace to the world
Mr. Africa claimed that South Africa has eradicated the prejudice that the racism system had caused in order to bolster a diverse society since the end of the segregation, which was observed on April 27, 1994.
South Africa can then stand high in the international community and support democracy and human rights, he said.
” Before 1994 ,]most ] people could not have a chance to vote or represent the country as an ambassador”, he said.
” Now, South Africa has one of the best provisions in the world, which guarantees individual rights to anyone regardless of variations. He claimed that we now have the opportunity to discuss non-racial South Africa in terms of economic growth and growth.
Mr. Africa stated that the nation is empowering women and children while accelerating its economic change and de-racialization.
” It is to maintain the destruction will never happen again, and people can enjoy freedom”, he said.
” We cannot tell different locations. We can simply learn from one another by exchanging beliefs. We have a lot in common and can learn from one another, he said, given that Thailand and South Africa have a diplomatic marriage.
Mr Africa commented on the fresh Nelson Mandela Centre at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, launched on March 21.
” The heart is a platform to share experiences on how to resolve conflict, target and reduce crimes, and promote harmony, not only between two countries, but the globe”, he said. It demonstrates the two nations ‘ resolve to pursue important issues that will benefit global peace.